Wondering Who to Use the Next Time you Order Contact Lenses Online? Read on..
Just a quick search online for ‘contact lenses’ or ‘cheap contact lenses’ will turn up dozens of
potential options. Websites all offering contact lenses at ‘unbeatable prices’, provided with
‘expert service’ or delivered ‘free’ – whatever gimmicks and incentives
it takes to catch your eye and win your business. You’ll likely have already come
across plenty of online contact lens providers promising the earth.
The dilemma though is who to use? Are they reputable? True to their word? Are transactions
secure? Can you trust them with your details? What about quality? What about after-sales
service? Are they qualified? Proven? Also do they offer a full range of leading
lenses - Bausch & Lomb, Purevision and Soflens, Ciba Vision,
Focus Dailies and Focus Monthlies for example? What about Cooper Vision
Biomedics, Proclear and Biofinity lenses or the Johnson & Johnson
Acuvue and Oasys range? A quality lens supplier will. They’ll also stock a wide
range of High Street Brands in their original manufacturer packaging.
And it’s not only online that you’ll find confusion reigning. If you paid too much
attention to what most high street opticians told you you’d probably be frightened
out of even considering using an online lens store in the first place. They’ll tell
you that lenses bought online are inferior or even unsafe, they’ll warn you of the
perils of internet shopping, that there’s no after-sales service. In fact they’ll
say whatever it takes to hang on to your custom. After all it’s you they’re relying
on you to pay their wages, rates, rentals and expensive showrooms.
Honestly, choosing the best contact lens provider really doesn’t have to be so complicated,
as long as you know what to look out for before you place your order
The first important thing to understand is that yes – you will without doubt get
a better deal online. You’ve almost endless options to ponder and in many ways that’s
great. The more competition, the lower the prices and the harder companies have
to try to please.
Choice does have its own problems though as the range of possibilities can make
it difficult to differentiate between those online contact lens companies expert
in talking a good game and those with a proven track record in genuinely delivering
the best prices, the best service and the best value, or perhaps more importantly
– those that deliver great prices, service and overall value consistently. After
all, surely life’s too short to have to waste time chopping and changing contact
lens providers as service falters or you find that your lenses are out of stock
or not the amazing deal you were originally made out to be?
The second important thing to realise is that whether this is the very first online
lens store you’ve visited or the fiftieth your search for the perfect lens provider
is at an end. You’ve arrived! Don’t worry though, we’ll spare you the sales patter.
Rather than banging on about how great we are or how many thousands of lens wearers
already trust us to deliver the very best prices and service - we’re going to actually
share some of our expertise in the form of some simple, sounds buying advice. Let
us explain in detail the sort of essential considerations that you need to look
at in deciding whether a provider is right for you. The qualities that mean you
can be absolutely sure that you are dealing with the very best in online contact
lens providers.
The Absolute Importance of Contact Lens Prescriptions
Take prescriptions as an example. Did you know that in the UK it’s illegal for any
contact lens provider to sell you lenses unless you can verify that you
have a current prescription issued by a qualified and registered optician? Put simply,
ensuring that you are ordering the correct lenses is your responsibility. You MUST
use a professional optician to provide you with a valid prescription. Any online
lens provider worth their salt is fully aware of this legal requirement and will
quickly make you aware of that fact too. If you’re not asked to verify your prescription
then the alarm bells should start ringing. Maybe the provider doesn’t know about
the legislation or even worse is happy to risk you health by ignoring the law. Either
way, it’s hardly a great sign and you’d be wise to give them a wide berth. Why deal
with a company that doesn’t take you eye care seriously?
Reputation Matters
What do customers have to say about their products and their service? These days
people are quick to share their opinions on online providers, good, bad or indifferent.
Make a point of checking out the review sites or the feedback that other contact
lens users are sharing. What’s their experience? What kind of impression does this
give you about any particular site? Is delivery as promised? Are prices as advertised?
What about customer support? You don’t have to just rely in the marketing blub on
a
cheap contact lens site – take a look at the reviews and evaluate the real
experiences of real customers too.
Online Commitment and Security
What’s the actual site like? Is it easy to navigate? Does it look and feel like
the company behind it is making a serious commitment to serve you? What about user-friendly
features such as one click re-order or auto-reminders and refill options that automatically
give you the heads up when you’re about to run out of lenses,? Little things add
up – they matter. Especially when it comes to online security – does the site display
the right kind of security credentials – the VeriSign logo for example, and the
little SSL padlock in your taskbar when you are in the ecommerce section? Don’t
take chances. Wherever you’re shopping on the internet insist on rock solid online
security
Trust
Is the site readily contactable? If you’re in the UK then doesn’t it make sense
to buy from a company with a UK based customer services? What about a chat option
or even a free phone number? Too many online companies seem to hide behind an anonymous
contact form and actually getting hold of a real live human being to discuss a query
or go through a problem is next to impossible. How far can you really trust an online
company that makes it difficult to get hold of them? Always look for clear and open
channels of communication. That a lens provider is happy to talk with their customers
and easy to get hold of says a lot about their trustworthiness.
Shipping and Returns
Another sign that you’re being treated with the respect that you deserve is in the
shipping and returns policy. Not only should you expect lenses delivered in strong
post-proof packaging you should also expect a ‘no quibble’ returns guarantee. We
all make mistakes and if you ordered the wrong lenses then, as long as the box is
unopened of course, you should be perfectly within your rights to return the goods
– ideally with up to full year’s grace.
Ensure too that any return costs will be an absolute minimum. Some companies even
go to the trouble of enclosing a free return post label with every order, just in
case it’s needed.
Ok – that about covers the main points. More than simply basing you choice of who
to use as your lens provider on price alone, we hope we’ve helped highlight other
important considerations. The trust factor, the convenience factor, the security
factor and the glowing endorsements of existing customers. Now you’re in the know
do take a few minutes to explore the site and see for yourself exactly the sorts
of things we’ve been talking about. And of course, if you have your prescription
to hand then head on over to our fantastic range of lenses and grab yourself a great
deal. And with all pre 5pm orders despatched same day, who knows, you could be enjoying
a set fresh set of lenses quicker than you can say – ‘Feelgood Contact Lenses
– the UK's No1 trusted contact lens provider’.